gallant

Noun · Adjective
US[gal-uhnt]/ˈɡælənt/2 syllables
Synonyms: dandydudefopsheikbeauswellfashion plateclotheshorsesquiredashingloftymajestic

Open English WordNet

Noun (2)

  1. a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearanceSynonyms: dandydudefopsheikbeauswellfashion plateclotheshorseType of man, adult maleKinds coxcomb, macaroniExamples Brummell, George Bryan Brummell
  2. a man who attends or escorts a womanSynonyms: squireType of attendant, attender

Adjective (4)

  1. unflinching in battle or action“a gallant warrior”“put up a gallant resistance to the attackers”Opposite cowardlySimilar brave, courageous
  2. lively and spirited“a dashing hero”Synonyms: dashingOpposite spiritlessSimilar spirited
  3. having or displaying great dignity or nobility“a gallant pageant”“lofty ships”“majestic cities”“proud alpine peaks”Synonyms: loftymajesticproudOpposite unimpressiveSimilar impressive
  4. being attentive to women like an ideal knightSynonyms: chivalrousknightlyOpposite discourteousSimilar courteous

Related words squire noun

Word of the day · Oct 6About this word
spuriousadjective

What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Gal′lant (găl′lant), adjective

Origin: F. gallant, prop. p. pr. of OF. galer to rejoice, akin to OF. gale amusement, It. gala ornament; of German origin; cf. OHG. geil merry, luxuriant, wanton, G. geil lascivious, akin to AS. gāl wanton, wicked, OS. gēl merry, Goth. gailjan to make to rejoice, or perh. akin to E. weal. See Gala, Galloon.

1. Showy; splendid; magnificent; gay; well-dressed.

The town is built in a very gallant place.— John Evelyn
Our royal, good and gallant ship.— William Shakespeare

2. Noble in bearing or spirit; brave; high-spirited; courageous; heroic; magnanimous; as, a gallant youth; a gallant officer.

That gallant spirit hath aspired the clouds.— William Shakespeare
The gay, the wise, the gallant, and the grave.— Edmund Waller

Synonyms: Gallant, Courageous, Brave. Courageous is generic, denoting an inward spirit which rises above fear; brave is more outward, marking a spirit which braves or defies danger; gallant rises still higher, denoting bravery on extraordinary occasions in a spirit of adventure. A courageous man is ready for battle; a brave man courts it; a gallant man dashes into the midst of the conflict.

Gal·lant′ (?; 277), adjective

Polite and attentive to ladies; courteous to women; chivalrous.

Gal·lant′ (?; 277), noun

1. A man of mettle or spirit; a gay, fashionable man; a young blood. William Shakespeare

2. One fond of paying attention to ladies.

3. One who wooes; a lover; a suitor; in a bad sense, a seducer. Joseph Addison

☞ In the first sense it is by some orthoëpists (as in Shakespeare) accented on the first syllable.

Gal·lant′ transitive verb [past tense & past participle Gallanted; present participle & verbal noun Gallanting.]

1. To attend or wait on, as a lady; as, to gallant ladies to the play.

2. To handle with grace or in a modish manner; as, to gallant a fan. obsolete Joseph Addison

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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